The Truth Behind Curbside Recycling
Posted by admin in environment on 02 15th, 2009You do know to use a curbside recycling program do you not? Surely you already know the incredible benefit you are providing your planet because, if you do not, then you need to see those benefits in action. Landfills can only hold so much garbage before another site must be found. Plastics and other recycled materials can take decades to break down. You can do your part by taking part of a great movement to help save the environment.
What happens with a curbside recycling program? Well, you separate your trash and find out what days the sanitation department picks up certain recyclables. Some small towns do not have separate pick up days, so you may have to take your recycled material to another town in order to dispose of it properly. Just make sure to contact someone at your local, recycling services department to find out about their program.
Doing your part has never been easier. You can easily separate your garbage as you throw it away, if you utilize waste bins to collect the trash. The most important tip for dealing with garbage is to always rinse out any containers that you throw away. It will definitely keep the smell down and help out the collectors just an extra bit. But simply putting your garbage out on the street may not be good enough for you. Perhaps you need to know how your recyclable material is actually used. You may be surprised by all the ways recycled material is put to good use.
These days, in many playgrounds, you will see rubber mats beneath the playground equipment. These rubber mats are made from old plastics and other rubber goods that have been recycled. While you are at the playground, also take a look at the benches. Many benches are being made out of recycled plastics but it does not stop there. That note the kids are passing may be written on recycled paper. The parking lot may be made from recycled glass and asphalt.
The proof of curbside recycling is all around you. You may not be able to imagine that plastic water bottle as anything other than a container for water but once you see the handiwork you will forever be convinced. You can lead by example and show children everywhere that one person can make a difference in keeping this planet clean and making sure it is left that way for future generations.
read comments (0)Problems With Clean Drinking Water Bottling
Posted by admin in environment on 02 15th, 2009Once upon a time clean drinking water was taken for granted. All source water areas were clean and pure. You could drink straight from a stream. Those days are long gone but the need for safe water continues to be a daily part of our lives. No one wants to have to worry that their drinking water is unsafe and could make them ill. Having a case of dysentery is not something most people want just because they have to have water to drink.
All source water in the United States is different. Don’t expect perfect water, because no water is completely pure since all water contains some impurities. Granted, the United States has safe water due to regulatory agencies that monitor public water sources. The drinking water system of towns and cities must provide the Environmental Protection Agency with a water quality report and samples of its water. Well water on private land is not regulated by the EPA or any regulatory commission.
Clean drinking water will not be completely tasteless nor will it be completely pure. The bottled water industry does offer advantages over tap water. They can provide water that contains vitamins and flavors. These drinks are still calorie free but offer a unique taste over tap water. But there are issues that come with buying bottled water that must be taken into account.
If you live in the United States, then chances are you have clean drinking water at your disposal. It may be through a drinking water system, straight from the tap or from bottled water. However, some less scrupulous companies were busted for claiming that their over priced, bottled water was from a mountain spring when in reality, it was straight out of the tap. Just do some research and you will be able to make an informed decision.
Compost Bins - A Useful Resource For Recycling Organic Materials
Posted by admin in environment on 02 11th, 2009In recent years, composting has enjoyed a resurgence of interest as there has been more and more emphasis put on the need to recycle. Not only is composting beneficial to the planet because it is an effective way to recycle organic material, but it also creates a wonderful, nutrient rich product to add to planting soil. Compost bins provide a good way to get started with your own composting project, which even people with small spaces can utilize.
There are a number of different types of composters on the market to meet a variety of needs and situations. Bins for composting can be built from materials that you already have around the backyard, or they can be purchased from garden supply stores, especially those that specialize in organic gardening. In some municipalities, the recycling centers provide bins free or at a reduced cost to encourage people to recycle their organic materials themselves.
Of the different compost bins available, some are known as holding units. These low maintenance bins are a very good option when space for a home composting project is limited, such as those who live in apartments or homeowners who simply don’t have much room. Holding units do not require turning of the compost pile, but the resulting lack of aeration means the composting process will take longer, usually from six months to two years.
Portable bins are another common type of bins and they are very similar to the holding units but they are able to be taken apart, moved and rebuilt. Different types of materials can by used and mixed with this kind of bin. Many types of plastic portable units are available on the market to purchase or they can be constructed out of wood and wire fencing.
One of the best types of bins is the variety called turning unit composters. These are specifically designed to facilitate easy turning of the compost pile which helps to aerate the heap. Turning units will produce fully decomposed material in a shorter amount of time because the composting process is accelerated by the improved aeration, allowing the bacteria to better do its job in the decomposition process. In addition, people like turning units because there are less odor problems because of the improved ventilation.
Turning unit composting bins can either be a set of bins or they can be a device that easily rotates or tumbles such as a barrel or a ball-type of unit. The drawback is that turning units generally cost most, are harder to build and require more space. The organic materials to be composted also need to be collected separately until enough has been gathered to fill the unit to the correct level and once it is full and the composting process begins, new materials cannot be added.
Simple heaps are an alternative for people who do not want o purchase or build composter bins. Turning a compost heap is always optional, but it should be kept in mind that the process of composting is accelerated when the waste material is turned at least a couple times a month.
The placement of compost bins in your backyard will depend on both aesthetic considerations and functional needs. It is best to place it in an area with good air circulation and in partial shade if available. It is also helpful to locate it near the garden area and a watering source. You can screen your compost pile with shrubs or simple fencing and you will want to position it away from your outdoor entertaining spaces.
Renewable Energy
Posted by admin in environment on 02 7th, 2009It’s crunch time on planet earth. People need to decide whether they will adopt nuclear power or live with the ramifications of global warming. The time to encourage the expansion of nuclear power is here. Nuclear power offers a clean, affordable, and relatively safe alternative to generating energy. Despite the fact that many companies have ample resources, such as can be seen in a BBG communications letter, where they have approx. 1.3 million acres of undeveloped land, the damage that is being done to the environment far outweighs the supply issues.
Nuclear power benefits the environment and everyone who reaps its ample output. Through the process of generating nuclear power, finite fossil fuels are not burned. Thus, costly emissions are reduced and the significant issue of global warming becomes ameliorated. Lawrence Grossman from Berkeley California stated that “between 1973 and the present, United States nuclear power plants prevented the emission of about two billion metric tons of carbon (New York Times).The growth of nuclear power lessens the dependence on the scarce resources. Vermont Yankee states that “one pound of nuclear fuel creates more energy than 830 barrels of oil, 240 tons of coal, and five million cubic feet of natural gas (Entergy).” The environmental benefits alone prove the necessity to develop nuclear power. The growth helps preserve the climate, and the nuclear power plants do not occupy much space in comparison to other types of plants. The nuclear power plants cause limited, if any, harm to the environment.
Many uninformed individuals argue that the cost of promoting nuclear power exceeds the benefits. Rather, the growth of nuclear power could cost much less than its alternatives such as fossil fuel plants. The energy is renewable and the materials are at hand. Unlike the fossil fuels which must be mined and processed, the source of nuclear power – radioactive elements – can be acquired from the decommissioning of nuclear weapons.
Lastly, the expansion of nuclear power is a safe alternative, despite common belief. The only extreme nuclear disaster happened in 1986. Chernobyl marked the worst nuclear power accident in history, yet the immediate deaths totaled a mere 30 personnel. The radioactive aftermath caused an uninhabitable section of land of approximately 20 square miles, which in a large view is not significant. Chernobyl occurred from a result of design failures and a disregard for safety procedures. The kind of facility where Chernobyl was erected isn’t used anywhere else in the world. One other notable accident occurred on Three Mile Island. There were absolutley no fatalities because the safety equipment operated properly. Nothing in life entails no risk. However, nuclear power is safe. Plant procedures are monitored and managed by the government. Each plant must pass a number of safety regulations (Chernobyl Disaster).
Whatever decision we make, we need to make it soon. Our decision will ultimately alter the future of the world. Concrete scientific evidence attests that mankind must harvest the abundant nuclear energy. The expansion of nuclear power is the key to our survival.
Alternative Fuel Sources - A Look Into Solar Power
Posted by admin in environment on 02 6th, 2009The use of solar power for home use has become a popular alternative in the United States and other parts of the world. The main advantage of solar power use is that it has very little cost to run and none of the noise and waste pollution attendant to existing power generation facilities. But the drawback is the high cost of installation that turns off many from purchasing the solar power panels.
Currently, the cost for the installation of solar power panels in a home is not yet affordable to the average homeowner. But the current technological advances are making the cost of the materials lower and more efficient and it will only take a few more years when the average home would have solar panels for heating and lighting standard. It may sound like out of a science fiction story but it will become reality soon enough. And it will then be one of the cheapest new alternative fuels we have available.
This goal is easily achievable because of the realization that after installation of the solar panel, the cost of generating electricity is practically nil. This is the best part because you can have energy bills slashes to as low as $10 a month and you conserve energy and you have an unlimited power supply. Also, the absence of any lost power due to expenses and administrative costs for distribution would be eliminated as the solar power generated is directly consumed by the home and the power stored would be in batteries for the home. In effect, the power generated and stored is free so long as all the necessary equipment for solar power generation has been completed. This is why we need more alternative fuel sources.
And the long-term costs are also eliminated. Unlike fossil fuel power generation, chemical emissions and the harmful extraction of this resource has pretty much altered the atmospheric landscape of our planet. In solar power, there is no chemical waste produced and no harmful by product is introduced to the environment. With this, the over-all costs of power production and consumption would be eliminated and replaced by clean, renewable and environmentally sound power source for all. And best of all, the costs of solar power is recovered in a few years as it pays for itself, then you have free power for life.
Common Water Measurements
Posted by admin in environment on 02 4th, 2009Mark Twain is generally credited for the saying, “Whiskey is for drinking; water is for fighting over.” While the source of this quote might be disputed, the message is very perceptive.
In today’s environmental climate, water is a big deal, especially in areas like the American southwest where there are shortages of water. Rural interests are pitted against muncipal interests; agricultural groups are battling environmental groups. Rights to water are increasingly litigated.
Standard Water Measurements.
People who research water are often confronted with measurements that might not make sense, like AFA, or CFS or GPM. Here are some common water flow rate and volume measurements:
- AFA means acre-feet per annum. Visualize an acre of land. One acre-foot is the volume of water sufficient to cover that acre of land to a depth of 1 foot. Typically, four people will use one acre-foot of water per year.
- CFS refers to cubic feet per second, and is used to measure the flow rate of rivers and streams.
- GPM is another measurement of flow, and refers to gallons per minute. You’ll see this flow rate used for domestic consumption.
- MI means miner’s inches. The MI standard varies from state to state, and it is not used much anymore. It is the measurement of the rate of water flow in a miner’s sluice. Flow was measured by a hole one inch square with a head of one inch. Generally, one miner’s inch is a flow of 1.5 cubic feet per minute. You will find references to “miner’s inches” in old water right filings and notices, as well as older decrees governing water rights. With the development of large-scale mining technologies and irrigation uses, water demand increased and the old miner’s inch measurement became an inadequate way to measure flow rates. The miner’s inch was replaced by cubic feet per second.
How Much Water Does a Person or Animal Use Per Day?
The State of Arizona has some standard water use quantities that it uses in calculating water consumption. According to its general standards, each person uses 180 gallons of water a day for domestic purposes. Where people such as the Navajo have to haul water, they use much less — typically, 15-20 gallons a day.
Horses and cattle drink about 12 gallons of water each day. Pigs consume about 2.5 gallons a day and sheep drink one and one-half gallons of water a day.
How to Calculate Your Water Flow or Volume.
Western-Water offers free water flow and volume calculators that can convert gallons-per-minute into AFA, miner’s inches to CFS and so on. If you have to file claims for your water, these calculators will come in handy.
Water is Critical.
Water is essential for life on planet earth. This is a precious natural resource that must be managed prudently. At Western-Water.com, you’ll find interesting news snippets about some of the hot topics facing the western states. Press releases and story submissions about water are always welcome. Water is an important topic that affects all of us.
Help Reduce the Biggest Carbon Footprint of All
Posted by admin in environment on 02 1st, 2009We’ve all seen the TV campaigns, news stories and general buzz about reducing your carbon footprint at home. An army of newly-enlisted eco-warriors are going about switching to energy saving bulbs, insulating their lofts and stopping putting their TVs on standby.It’s commendable stuff, but unfortunately CO2 emissions from individuals are only a minority of the problem.The truth is that the largest part of the global enviornmental burden comes from businesses and organisations.It’s like an economy of scale - if you change a small thing within a big company you can see tremendous results.
Fair enough, I hear you say. But its not my responsibility. That’s the job of my boss, and my boss’s boss - nothing to do with me. But that’s just not the case. Anyone who has a job can make a big difference to their employer’s CO2 emissions.Plus it can be a lot more effective than the actions you take at home.
Here are some pointers, small and large, on achieving a greener workplace:
- Recycle office waste. There’s a huge amount of potentially recyclable material that businesses dispose of every day - far more than your home output could ever be. Try and get recycling collection bins on every floor of your workplace. Its simpler than you think, as there are countless government and charity programs to do this for you for free.
- Drive less to work. Set up a car pooling scheme to cut down on exhaust emissions. Alternatively, how about leaving the car at home and walking or cycling to work.
- Switch to energy saving lightbulbs. Changing a couple of bulbs at home saves only a tiny bit of energy. But think about how many lightbulbs there are in your workplace and you’ll begin to see how effective it could be to get them switched.
- Green Computing. No business today is without a large number of computers and IT, and the energy usage of these is massive. You can make a big difference simply by making sure your monitor isn’t left on standby when you finish work. The next step is to get onto the IT department where you work and tell them to review their “green baseline”. Get them to perform some proper asset tracking on all office IT equipment, using professional asset management software, a business can dramatically reduce its carbon footprint and help meet increasingly stringent government environmental requirements.
- Campaigning. Move from baby steps to giant leaps. Get your work buddies involved in some green campaign and you’ll really see change happening.By putting pressure on our bosses to take seriously their green duties we little guys can make a real difference. And in these tough economic times, managers will be keen to implement green intitiatives because very often they are also great money savers (see the IBM ad above!).Many companies are involved in using corporate vehicles in some way, from company cars to global freighting of goods, and this is a huge source of carbon emissions. Pushing them to properly review their transport and logistics management and make the smallest of improvements can save them big money and dramatically reduce their carbon footprint in the process.
This is only the start. My main aim with this article was to get people thinking about how powerful being green at work can be. Agree? Disagree? Feel free to air your thoughts!
